It appears that free agent signings are shifting the power in the league. I am shocked by several moves, including:
The Sabers were shaken, losing Drury and Brière
NYR looks good for a cut after signing BOTH Drury and Gomez (from NJ) (I just threw up a little). Considering the way they finished last season…
The Pens are just waiting to form a dynasty with their existing young talent and new pickups.
The Red Wings lost some key players. It’s like they’ve given up.
The Ducks sign Matt Schneider and Bertuzzi, which is pretty amazing, but considering S Neds. and Selanne retire, they are still in a big hole. Plus, it looks like they won’t have the money to re-sign Giggy.
The Kings should be stronger this year, with some decent acquisitions.
I’m not sure what the Leafs are doing. Jason Blake is great, but they need to worry more about keeping the puck out from the internet. Get Giggy back! Maybe they spent all their money on Antropov.
I can’t wait to see what happens to the rest!
The Avs got Ryan Smyth back, which was a great move for the team. They also signed some good defenders from San Jose (sorry, name is blank at the moment), so as an OC fan, I’m happy with the moves they’ve made so far.
I just hope the Habs can resign Sourey. I don’t know if they have enough cap space, but their blue line would be pretty solid with the recent addition of Hamrlik.
As for the Leafs…I hope they can find a journeyman vet with serious medical issues and sign him to a 5 year, $50 million contract!
(quote)David Barr wrote:
The Pens are just waiting to form a dynasty with their existing young talent and new pickups.
(/quote)
I’m really excited to see how the team develops. Will they be able to keep Crosby, Staal and Malkin? The only thing that helps is that even though Malkin was drafted before Crosby, he didn’t start playing until last year, so they have a one year grace period to sign Crosby before Malkin and Staal …although I’d rather all three tell the Pens to piss off. and heading to Montreal in a few years! 
words can’t describe how angry i am at the demons letting go of gomez without a fight.
I know they have cap issues, but this guy is part of what I consider to be the heart and soul of the franchise.
he will be greatly missed.
Fucking Darcy Regier screwed us for next season. What was he thinking when he let Brière and Drury go?
Brière would have stayed in Buffalo on a 5-year, $25 million contract, that’s the same thing he cost us the last 5 years, and we let him go?!
Next year is already looking pretty bad for us.
St. Louis resigned Tkachuk and also acquired free agent Paul Kariya on Monday. They resigned defensemen Eric Brewer and Barret Jackman. It looks like my Blues are really building a young and talented defense group.
Hey, is anyone else going to the rummage sale in Nashville, Tennessee? I was looking for someone to drive with…
I wonder if the Rags will re-sign Shanny…maybe the Wings are looking for him, and that’s why they let Bert go.
I just have a few quick responses to your comments for now:
The Red Wings replaced Schneider with Rafalski.
The Ducks have already resigned Giguère.
The Leafs traded for Vesa Toskala last week.
I’ll contribute more when I get the chance!
GO Leaves GO!
I don’t know why, but I feel really bad about this situation. This is really fucked up.
(quote)Magnate wrote:
Fucking Darcy Regier screwed us for next season. What was he thinking when he let Brière and Drury go?(/quote)
Wow, you’re an idiot. You’re coming onto a thread I started and you’re making me look bad. You’re lucky we’re related.
Where do you find information on Giggy? I have not found anything.
BTW-Raycroft still thinks he’s the #1 goalie! LOL
(quote)Nathan Devey wrote:
I just have a few quick responses to your comments for now:
The Red Wings replaced Schneider with Rafalski.
The Ducks have already resigned Giguère.
The Leafs traded for Vesa Toskala last week.
I’ll contribute more when I get the chance!
GO Leaves GO!
(/quote)
(quote) David Barr wrote:
I don’t know why, but I feel really bad about this situation. This is really fucked up.
Magnat wrote:
Fucking Darcy Regier screwed us for next season. What was he thinking when he let Brière and Drury go?
(/quote)
I could understand him letting Brière go if he commanded $52 million like he got from Philadelphia, but the fact that in January he offered to resign from the same contract we had him under, 5 years , 25 million dollars.
To top it off, they just watch Drury leave (a much better player in my opinion than Brière, Drury was Mr. Clutch this season, saved us on several occasions).
Good news nonetheless! We signed Mair and Numminen!
Mair is a mediocre center who is just there to be a little muscle, and Numminen has maybe 2 seasons before he retires (being optimistic).
So half of our centers are gone, our co-captains are gone, but we have a defender close to retirement and our worst center back.
We HAVE to keep Vanek (it’s a good thing he’s restricted) for next season, I’m glad they said they’re making his contract a priority now, otherwise we’d be completely screwed.
(quote) David Barr wrote:
Where do you find information on Giggy? I have not found anything.
(/quote)
I guess John Zeiler?
Last I heard these two were tight as a man’s anus.
;p
Yes, we got Rafalski back, who is a similar player to Schneider although I would have liked to keep him. Hasek signed now too. The voices debate again. Is he too old? I thought so early last year, so who knows anymore with this guy.
“Senators name James Paddock new head coach”.
Thomas Vanek was offered a 7-year, $50 million contract by Edmonton (he’s restricted so Buffalo hasn’t lost him yet).
Every day I have to wonder what Darcy Regier (GM) and Tom Golisano (owner) are thinking.
(quote)Magnate wrote:
Thomas Vanek was offered a 7-year, $50 million contract by Edmonton (he’s restricted so Buffalo hasn’t lost him yet).
(/quote)
Buffalo signed Vanek to a 7-year, $50 million contract.
I don’t think it’s been mentioned yet, but the Islanders signed Comrie and Guerin.
Atlanta signed Todd White, Eric Perrin, Ken Klee and Pascal Dupuis. Lost Sim and de Vries though.
(quote)Magnate wrote:
I don’t think it’s been mentioned yet, but the Islanders signed Comrie and Guerin.
(/quote)
Ouch for both losing teams, but it would be the boost the Isles needed.
As for NJ, with the loss of Rafalski, Marty will return there on his own. Will this change the system they are so famous for?
BTW-Hasek isn’t too old, nor is Chelios.
It all depends on who is in goal. Luongo and the Canucks will always be a force.
I think Naslund is past his prime… too bad
(quote) David Barr wrote:
As for NJ, with the loss of Rafalski, Marty will return there on his own. Will this change the system they are so famous for?
(/quote)
I hope so, NJ was ridiculously boring to watch this season every time they took a lead (matter of opinion of course), I rarely made it through an entire game if they had a lead before the 3rd I would switch of chain.
MY ELDER !!!
Technical problems prevented me from finishing my reflection the other day.
I think hockey, more than any other sport, is more about defense and team chemistry.
Glitzy and expensive scorers get a lot of attention, but the main thing is the goalkeeper.
Look at Jersey, Anaheim and Colorado when Roy was riding. All had dominant goalies.
If Vancouver can somehow get a little more offensive punch, they’ll have the defense to take it all.
